Darren Burke

Doncaster music legend John Parr has been thrust back into the spotlight after his classic St Elmo's Fire track was picked to soundtrack a new TV advert.

The Sykehouse star's 1980s US number one St Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) has been revived for the ad by technology giant Android - and nearly six million people have already watched the clip.

Called "Rock, Paper, Scissors," it has the three historical enemies from the playground game learning to make friends with each other.

The cute animated ad is a story of three soon-to-be friends overcoming school bullying and features the Doncaster star's song as its soundtrack. The firm, owned by Google, is one of the world's leading mobile operators.

In an interview with music website www.songfacts.com he said: "Google to me are a very blue-sky, forward-thinking company.

"I don't know for sure but I reckon they checked me out before investing so heavily in the "together but different" campaign. They wouldn't want some guy with skeletons ruining the message.

"But of course it's the song at the end of the day.

"Because it was written and performed in such a short, incredible moment of time for me. I had just seen a short video of Rick Hansen setting out to circumnavigate the globe in his wheelchair.

"I was charged, truly inspired. I was him as I sang it, wheeling up the mountainside towards St. Elmo's Fire burning in the sky.

"Even when people don't know the story they usually get the feeling when they hear the song. I think Google maybe felt it too."

St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985, remaining there for two weeks, was the main theme for Joel Schumacher's 1985 film St. Elmo's Fire and catapulted John to global fame.

The song also peaked at number six in the UK and was written in honour of Canadian athlete Rick Hansen, who at the time was going around the world in his wheelchair to raise awareness for spinal cord injuries. His journey was called the "Man in Motion Tour."